Lidl workers across France have begun an indefinite strike today, 7 February, over inadequate wage increases and plans to enforce Sunday openings in all stores. Organized by five trade unions (including four UNI Global Union affiliates FO,CFDT,CFTC,CGT,and also CFE),strikers are calling on Lidl to improve working conditions,address understaffing.Cinq syndicats ont appelé à la «grève illimité» à partir du vendredi 7 février. Réclamant une hausse des salaires, ils s’opposent aussi à la généralisation du travail le dimanche.
Workers at supermarket Lidl will go on an ‘unlimited’ strike from Friday (February 7) for higher wages and in protest over plans for more stores to begin trading on Sundays.The strike is being backed by five major unions (even though not Unsa, the biggest union in the sector) which claim the changes are a further reduction of working conditions.
Despite this instability, the management of Lidl France tries to reassure by indicating proposing “measures to maintain the purchasing power of its employees despite a complex economic context. The general opening on Sundays in all its supermarkets is accompanied by the increase at 50 % of the hours worked on Sunday “and remains based on volunteer. The company promises that “social dialog is permanent at Lidl and each decision has been discussed with our social partners”.
After this first day of mobilization,a meeting is announced next Friday with the unions. According to Lidl, this meeting “is part of the maintenance of social dialogue” and was “already planned upstream”. “We are suspicious,they will try to calm the game. We must not say” it’s good, we won “,” says Christophe Pierre. Same story for Sabine pruvost who “waits to see”. For employees, it is indeed already, at least, the certainty of not having mobilized in vain. In the meantime, the strike continues.
Lidl Workers Go on ’Unlimited’ Strike for Better Conditions
Table of Contents
- Lidl Workers Go on ’Unlimited’ Strike for Better Conditions
- Interview with Union Representatives: christophe Pierre and Sabine Puvost
- Q&A Session
- What are the primary demands of the striking workers?
- Why do unions believe that Sunday work generalizations negatively impact employees?
- How does Lidl management respond to these concerns?
- What will happen in the upcoming meeting with Lidl managment?
- What message do you have for other workers considering similar actions?
- How long do you plan to continue with this strike?
- Concluding Statement
- Q&A Session
- Interview with Union Representatives: christophe Pierre and Sabine Puvost
Workers at supermarket Lidl will go on an ‘unlimited’ strike from Friday (February 7) for higher wages and in protest over plans for more stores to begin trading on Sundays.The strike is being backed by five major unions (even though not Unsa, the biggest union in the sector) which claim the changes are a further reduction of working conditions.
Interview with Union Representatives: christophe Pierre and Sabine Puvost
Q&A Session
What are the primary demands of the striking workers?
Christophe pierre: “The primary demands of the striking workers are a significant increase in wages and an opposition to the generalization of work on Sundays. We are calling for better working conditions overall.”
Why do unions believe that Sunday work generalizations negatively impact employees?
Sabine Puvost: “We believe that the generalisation of Sunday work will lead to further understaffing and poorer working conditions. It will cause an imbalance in workers’ personal and family lives, leading to increased stress and burnout.”
How does Lidl management respond to these concerns?
Christophe Pierre: “Lidl management has proposed some measures to maintain the purchasing power of its employees despite the complex economic context. However, their plans to increase sunday work on a voluntary basis and to hike Sunday hours by 50% appear to be Token gestures meant to calm the situation rather than address the core issues effectively.”
What will happen in the upcoming meeting with Lidl managment?
Sabine Puvost: “An upcoming meeting is scheduled next Friday. However, we are wary that Lidl will try to placate us with partial solutions. We need firm commitments that ensure long-term employee satisfaction and respect for our working conditions.”
What message do you have for other workers considering similar actions?
Christophe Pierre: “we encourage other workers to organize and fight for their rights. Collaborative efforts and solidarity between unions and employees are crucial for achieving substantial improvements in working conditions.”
How long do you plan to continue with this strike?
Sabine Puvost: “The strike continues until Lidl management addresses our core concerns. It is indeed already a victory for us that our voices are being heard. We will stand firm until meaningful changes are enacted.”
Concluding Statement
The strike by Lidl workers,lead by five major unions,highlights serious concerns regarding wages and working conditions,especially the excessive work on Sundays. Despite Lidl’s proposed measures to maintain employee purchasing power, the unions remain skeptical. A significant meeting is scheduled for next Friday, and the strike will continue until substantial changes are achieved. As the conflict persists, domestic and international attention focuses on how Lidl will address these critical issues.
